Ranting Eva is a twenty-something whose ever observant eye hopes to share the daily trials and tribulations of the 21st century, through some downright opinionated rambling on different facets of pop culture.« How can you lose a 38 ton sculpture? | Main | Stay [We Missed You] »
January 24, 2006
Por una cabeza : the anatomy of a tango
Slow...Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
The basic five counts of the tango, an ever repeating rhythm in my head as I listen to the dramatic accordion music playing in the dance studio. As I stand in position with my instructor, he adjusts my dance frame, aligning hips and shoulder, and making sure my knees have enough bend to them. Then he positions my head and neck, always checking my overall posture in the mirror, quick to point out where my posture had gone astray. More bend. More resistance. When my fearless leader has ironed out all the kinks in my dance frame, we prepare for the first steps.
The basic. Back...Back...Back. Side. Together... Slow...Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
My knees bent and frame strong, I stretch my legs as far as they go, matching my instructor's long strides.
Slow...Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
Our legs in a constant state of connection; he leads and I follow, never rushing. The second he senses that I have gone to fast, he cocks his head to the side and says, "Slow......", gently coaxing my foot back into position.
Again, we start from the beginning: Back...Back...Back. Side. Together. Slow...Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
We glide across the dance floor, moving to the strains of Gotan Project's Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre). Satisfied with my progress, he decides to lead me into promenade. A few alignment changes to my frame and a review of staccato head movement and once again I am stretching my legs to follow and keep up, a constant connection being kept between my right hip and his left hip, knees leading knees, momentum building as we charge through the steps.
Side...Side...Turn. Back. Together... Slow... Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
Our moves are sharp and precise. He looks at my posture, remarking on the elegance and beauty of my posture. Now I am ready for the cambio. For a change, I must go forward and low, practically straddling his left leg and yet keeping my legs and frame in perfect extension and alignment.
Forward ... Back... Back. Side. Together... Slow... Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
Here I struggled a bit. My shoulders and hips started to misbehave and I kept moving the wrong leg as I felt the gentle forward tug on my shoulder. But we kept practicing, driving through the choreography and starting over again until all my appendages behaved in the proper way.
By the end of our 40 minute lesson, we were a single unit, moving in unison. Tango is a power struggle. I surrendered to the music and just followed the lead. There was no room to think, but just to feel and embrace the moment and revel in the freedom and passion of the dance. I was not panicking about what would come next. I asserted myself, answering each challenge my partner set forth and pushing back just as hard.
All this with five simple counts: Slow...Slow... Quick. Quick. Slow...
Posted by eva on January 24, 2006 10:34 PM
